Semen parameters, fertility and testosterone levels in male rats exposed prenatally to betamethasone

Autor(es)

Piffer, Renata C. ^{[1, 2]} ; Garcia, Patricia C. ^{[1, 2]} ; Gerardin, Daniela C. C. ^[2] ; Kempinas, Wilma G. ^[3] ; Pereira, Oduvaldo C. M. ^{[1, 2]}

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Botucatu Med Sch, Dept Clin Med, BR-18618000 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Dept Pharmacol, Inst Biosci, BR-18618000 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Dept Morphol, Inst Biosci, BR-18618000 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: REPRODUCTION FERTILITY AND DEVELOPMENT; v. 21, n. 5, p. 634-639, 2009.
• Citações Web of Science: 17

Resumo

The present study investigated the long-term effects of prenatal betamethasone exposure on sperm quality and count, fertility and plasma testosterone levels in adult male rats. Pregnant rats received 0.1 mg kg(-1) betamethasone on Days 12, 13, 18 and 19 of pregnancy. This treatment impaired sperm quality, sperm production, fertility and plasma testosterone levels in adult male offspring compared to the control group. Thus, the results of the present study indicate that the long-term effects of prenatal betamethasone exposure may be deleterious to offspring. The consequent decrease in testosterone production during adulthood, in association with damaged semen parameters, may explain for the observed decrease in the capacity of adult male offspring to themselves generate viable descendants. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 06/57038-6 - Influencia da exposicao pre-natal a betametasona sobre o desenvolvimento da prole, do nascimento a vida adulta reproudutiva, em ratos.
• Beneficiário: Oduvaldo Câmara Marques Pereira
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular